Ooty (Udhagamandalam) in Tamil Nadu is a lovely hill station in the Nilgiri Hills. It is one of the most bio-diverse regions of the world and attracts tourists with its scenic landscapes covered with eucalyptus and pine trees and coffee and tea plantations. Ooty has plenty of sightseeing attractions and boating and trekking opportunities for tourists. Here are 10 best tourist places to visit in Ooty and things to do.

Must visit tourist places in Ooty #1: Ooty Lake

Ooty Lake is a must-visit tourist place in the Nilgiris district. This man-made lake, built by John Sullivan in 1824, is spread over 65 acres. Popular for the adjoining boat house, it is surrounded by eucalyptus trees and the Nilgiri range. The serene and calm lake has a boating facility and tourists can hire paddle boats, motorboats or rowing boats. Kids can enjoy a ride on the mini train and play at the amusement park, which includes a haunted house and a mirror house.

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Places to visit in Ooty #2: Botanical Gardens

The Government Botanical Gardens is one of the famous tourist places in Ooty, spread over 22 hectares. It is home to a thousand species of plants, shrubs, exotic and indigenous flowers, ferns, herbs, bonsais and trees. There are various lawns at the Botanical Garden dedicated to medicinal plants and ferns and flowers laid out in the Italian style. The main lawn has the stunning design of the Indian Union made with varieties of plants, flowers and trees. The Lower Garden has 127 species of ferns, while the New Garden nurtures roses and natural floral carpets and has a pond. Thriving, well-maintained lawns, rare tree species like the paper bark tree, cork tree and the monkey puzzle tree (monkeys cannot climb this tree), a 20-million-year-old fossilized tree and an Italian-style garden, make this a must-visit place in Ooty. The Toda Mund is another attraction here that gives a glimpse of the Toda tribe of Ooty.

Tourist places to visit in Ooty #3: Doddabetta Peak

Doddabetta is a mountain peak on the Ooty-Kotagiri Road in the Nilgiris district. Literally meaning ‘Big Mountain’, Doddabetta is the highest point of the Nilgiri range and one of the popular places to see in Ooty. Situated at an altitude of 2,623 metres, Doddabetta is one of the highest peaks in south India, surrounded largely by forest. Sholas cover the hollows of its slopes. Gorgeous flora and fauna add to the overall charm of Doddabetta. Tall rhododendron trees, flowering sub-alpine shrubs and herbs are seen near the peak. Doddabetta offers a panoramic view of the valley, the plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore. You can walk or drive to this peak. There is a telescope house at the top of the peak with two telescopes to witness the alluring valley around.

Places to visit in Ooty #4: Emerald Lake

Snuggled amidst the Nilgiri and situated around 20 kilometres from Ooty, the Emerald Lake in the silent valley is a beautiful place to visit in Ooty. Surrounded by tea plantations and rolling meadows, the area is serene and peaceful and is the perfect place to enjoy some time in the lap of nature with your loved ones. The surrounding woods and blue lake water are home to diverse flora and fauna. You can spot a variety of birds including ducks and other aquatic animals. The sunrise and sunset here are awe-inspiring and not to be missed.

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Places to visit in Ooty #5: Mudumalai National Park

Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, is located at the tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka in the Nilgiris. The protected area is a designated tiger reserve and has various endangered species including the elephant, the Malabar Squirrel, the Nilgiris Langur, the Indian Rock Python, the spotted deer, the Bengal tiger and the leopard. The Sanctuary has at least 266 species of birds, including the endangered Indian white-rumped vulture and long-billed vulture. Spread across a large area, the sanctuary also has a wide variety of flora and fauna. Explore the Park Van safari. A tourist can go for an Elephant Safari, however, the elephants do not go deep into the woods.

Ooty famous places to visit #6: Rose Garden

The Government Rose Garden is a famous place to visit in Ooty. The pride of Ooty, the Rose Garden has won the Garden of Excellence Award for South Asia from the World Federation of Rose Societies. Maintained by the Government of Tamil Nadu, this garden in Ooty probably has the maximum types of roses in India. The garden is divided into five terraced areas that cover more than 10 acres of land and has over 20,000 varieties of roses. A tourist can enjoy the hybrid tea roses, ramblers, miniature roses, green roses, black roses, Papageno and Floribunda, among others. The flowers are in full bloom from March to June.

See also: Top 15 places to visit in Chennai and things to do

Must-visit places in Ooty #7: Tea Museum and Tea Factory

Ooty has tea estates spread all around the town. The Tea Museum and the Tea Factory are must-visit places in Ooty. The Tea Estate View Point, near Doddabetta Peak, is worth a visit. You can witness the entire tea production process at the factory. Nestled in the lap of the lush Nilgiris, spread over an area of one acre, you can see the full ‘Leaf to Tea’ cycle at the factory, from drying to the final packaging of tea leaves. The Tea Museum exhibits the process of making different varieties of tea leaves and the evolution of tea. You can also enjoy a sample cup of cardamom or chocolate tea. The souvenir shop has a variety of tea powders to take back for family and friends.

Places to visit in Ooty #8: St Stephen’s Church

Source: Timothy A. Gonsalves, Wikimedia Commons

St Stephen’s Church is an architectural beauty worth visiting in Ooty. One of the oldest in the Nilgiris, the church is known for its Victorian-era architecture, clock tower and stained-glass windows, showing, among other scenes, the crucifixion of Christ and Mary holding baby Jesus in her arms. A huge painting of the Last Supper enhances the walls of this church. Interesting fact: the main beam and the timber were taken from Tipu Sultan’s palace after the British defeated him in the Mysore War and were brought here by elephants. The peaceful ambience of the church makes it a beautiful retreat for peace and prayer.

Best places to visit in Ooty #9: Catherine, Kalhatti and Pykara Waterfalls

The waterfalls in Ooty cannot be missed. They are the perfect spots for both, nature and adventure enthusiasts. The scenic waterfalls in Ooty are known as exciting trekking spots and picnic places for families. Catherine Falls is famous for its charming beauty, awe-inspiring cascading water that descends from a height of 250 metres and the surrounding lush green and dense forest that creates an impeccable natural background. Barely14 kilometres from the main town of Ooty, the Kalhatti Falls is situated in Bellika and is a well-known tourist place. The waterfall is known as a bird watcher’s paradise and the top of the falls gives you the most amazing aerial view of the entire valley. Nestled amidst lush green forests, the Pykara Falls is a sight to behold. Spurting from a height of 55 metres and 61 metres, the waterfall originates in two separate sections that merge at the base before flowing down over the rocks.

Places to visit in Ooty #10: Mariamman Temple

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Mariamman Temple in Ooty attracts devotees and tourists from all over the country. The beautiful, five-tiered gopuram of the temple is simply attractive. Goddess Mariamman, considered a form of Goddess Kali, is also known as Mahamaayi or Sheetala Gowri and is considered the Goddess of Rain. The temple also worships Kaliamman, sister of Mariamman. Together, the goddesses are believed to heal diseases. Every year in April, a festival honouring the deities is organised at the temple where devotees walk barefoot on burning coals. The temple is unique as the Navgrahas are present here with their consorts.

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Things to do in Ooty

Tourists, be it a honeymoon couple or a family, can enjoy Ooty. Right from the toy train ride to the tea tasting, this lovely hill station has many adventures and activities. Ooty offers lush greenery, pleasant weather and various adventure options.

Enjoy a toy train ride

The toy train is one of the biggest attractions in Ooty. Starting in 1899, it has continued to charm tourists. Ooty toy train or the Nilgiris Mountain Railway was designated as a UNESCO Heritage Site in 2005. The train with blue and cream coaches and wooden benches covers the Nilgiris – lush green tea estates, towering Nilgiris and Eucalyptus trees, beautiful bridges and countless tunnels. The toy train covers 46 kms in 5 hours and takes one on a truly spectacular journey.

Trekking and camping in Ooty

Among the many fun activities to enjoy in Ooty, adventure seekers opt for trekking and camping. The hill station has several trekking trails along the mountain ranges. The Sengottaraayar Malai trek has breath-taking views of the tea estates and the forest covers on the hill ranges of Ooty. The Shola Forest trek has beautiful villages and tribal settlements besides the rivulets. The Kotagiri-Elk is one of the most preferred routes, full of flora, fauna and rich wildlife. Parsons Valley, Mukurthi Lake, Madumalai, Pykara, Avalanche and Bangitappal are also popular trekking spots. Soochimalai (Needle Rock View Point) is a popular trekking spot with a waterfall where you can stay in a tent. Avalanche Lake is also a perfect camping spot, surrounded by mountains.

Mountain biking

Mountain Bike Park in Ooty, the first of its kind in the country, built by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, is a must-visit for adventure lovers. Its natural bumps and curves simulate real mountainous conditions. Features such as the teeter-totter, switchbacks, sponge pits, suspension bridge and jump ramps make the bike park a memorable visit.

Shopping in Ooty

Ooty, the charming hill station, has many shopping options. It has several flea markets and shopping centres. Ooty is known for homemade chocolates. Step into bakeries on Charing Road and pick up a flavour of your choice – milk, dark chocolate, white chocolate, cashews, raisins or strawberries. Nilgiris is mainly a tea plantation area. Shop in Ooty for packets of dust and leaf, black, green and white varieties or masala, jasmine and cardamom tea. Ooty is also known for aromatic essential oils, especially eucalyptus, citronella and camphor. Ooty has the best organically-grown strawberries. Commercial Road has shops for handmade chocolates, leather items, aromatic oils, handicrafts, jewellery and woollen clothing. There are a few supermarkets and big stores, including Handicrafts Development Corporation of Kerala and Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan. Do visit the Main Bazaar in Ooty for clothes, paintings and handicrafts and silver jewellery. The Tibetan market is famous for woollen clothes – shawls, jackets, gloves, cardigans and monkey caps. Lower Bazar Road has everything, from textiles and clothing to chocolates and gift items.

Must-have food in Ooty

Ooty has many multi-cuisine restaurants. However, on every corner, you can find south Indian food. Most of the dishes in the region are prepared with coconut, coconut oil, asafoetida and tamarind. Popular breakfast consists of idli, dosa, uttapam, vada and upma, served with coconut chutney and sambar. Lunch and dinner consist of curry with rice, poppadoms and chutney. Avial is a popular vegetable stew and a speciality of Ooty. Cooked with moderate spices and seven to eight vegetables, this is the local comfort food. Ooty has a variety of dosas but the neer dosa is a must-have. Chicken Chettinad is a classic south Indian delicacy, laced in peppery gravy prepared from coconut milk. Kozhukkatta is a popular sweet dish. These are dumplings made with rice flour wrapping and grated coconut and jaggery filling. Ooty also has some of the best homemade chocolates. Varkey is a popular crusty, crispy cookie. Don’t miss out on a hot cup of a local variety of tea or coffee.

Places to visit near Ooty

FAQs

Which are the best places to visit near Ooty?

One of the most beautiful places to visit near Ooty is Coonoor, which is known for its tea trails and the Nilgiri Hills. Another place near Ooty is Mysore, which boasts of royal heritage. Coimbatore is situated approximately 85 km from Ooty with stunning mountain views, waterfalls, temples and pleasant weather all year round.

How many days is enough for a tourist in Ooty?

Ooty is a scenic town hill with waterfalls, mountains, boating facilities on lakes and colourful botanical gardens. You require at least three days to enjoy its beauty and the major attractions.

Which is the best time to visit Ooty?

The weather in Ooty is pleasant throughout the year, with the temperature ranging between 5 and 15 degrees with colder nights. The best time to visit is from October to June, when the weather is ideal to pursue outdoor activities. Ooty can also be visited during the monsoons, in July and August, if you love the rains and lush greenery.